Saturday, June 25, 2016

Folks, have you been to visit The Left Bank Shop & Gallery in McGregor, Iowa, yet? If not, you are missing out on some amazing artwork! The best local artists (within a 100-mile radius) have work for sale at The Left Bank. You can find anything from jewelry, baskets, ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture, and more!

Not only is this a great space to come for awesome Iowa-made gifts, but there is always an excellent show in the special exhibits gallery. For a couple of more days (2 days...until June 27th!), you can see a really cool exhibit from local and regional folk artists. If you aren't sure what "folk art" is, this is your chance to see a great selection that can open your eyes to an eclectic genre of art. For example, at first glance you may think you're looking at a whimsical painting, but at closer consideration, you'll be amazed at the detail in Barbara Decker's wallpaper collages! You'll enjoy the melodic landscapes painted in oil by self-taught artist Carol Hartmann. Nancy Schmidt's rosemaling, a decorative Norwegian folk painting, is expertly detailed. You'll be captivated by the paintings of Suzanne Aunan, the primitive work of Teresa Champion, and the exquisite pine basket weaving by Roberta Condon. So don't miss out on this enchanting exhibit! Here are a few images in case you can't get there before the 27th.

And... if you missed this first exhibit of the season, you can always checkout the next exhibit, "A Secret Garden: Art Inspired by Nature," which opens on Friday night, July 1st! Stop in Friday, July 1st between 6pm and 8pm to enjoy free beverages, snacks, and LIVE music by Mandy LaBarge! You're in for a treat because the artwork of Ann McCullough, Karen Juno, Maureen Wilde and Coleen Welter is magical!

Also, this is a great chance to see a preview of one of our Art in the Park 2016 artists, Ann McCullough. I can't wait to take my baby girl to her first art exhibit at the Left Bank!

Thursday, June 23, 2016

My husband and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world in May and we've been enjoying each and every wonderful, exhausting, exhilarating, miraculous moment! I cannot believe she's already over a month old, grown so much, and steals our hearts a little more each day!

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Today we noticed a sweet floral surprise on our front patio: a May Day Basket! This is such a lovely springtime tradition that several people still carry on in small-town Iowa. In fact, I had never heard of nor encountered a May Day Basket until we moved to the farm. This sweet gesture is in celebration of the change of seasons, the warm weather arriving, and sharing of the flowers produced by the April showers. It has been a bit rainy the past few weeks and we are looking forward to the sunny forecast for the week to come. Thank you to our secret May Day deliverer! You brought us some early sunshine to the week's forecast as we eagerly await the arrival of our sweet baby girl! (39 weeks today♥)

Friday, April 29, 2016

This gorgeous Mississippi shop and gallery space reopens under their new name,

The Left Bank Shop & Gallery

Friday, May 13th, 2016.

For
those of you who have followed my posts on the McGregor-Marquette Center for
the Arts (MMCA) over the past year, you’re in for a treat! There have been a
few changes underway in the retail gallery for the 2016 season. Changes include
not only their fresh fun new name, The Left Bank Shop & Gallery, but also
an expanded shopping space for the retail gallery; the ability to sneak a look
into the old bank vault; and, of course, new artwork from the area’s finest
artisans!

There will be excellent special exhibits
featured throughout the 2016 season, and you’ll be assisted by three smiling new
faces (be sure to say hi to Teri, Stephannie, and Annie) when you shop at the Left
Bank!

Special Tonight!

Enjoy ART and refreshments from 5:30-8:30 during

the Art After School Program’s
Exhibit of Art Around the World.

The MMCA sponsors an eight week spring after school program that is just wrapping up, and you’ll be amazed by the colors and variety of artwork on display!One night only, don’t miss out!